Every year the department of corrections begs the legislature for funding to fix its aging facilities. Each time around, they have about 60 priority projects, but they'll only get money for about five.

Every year the department of corrections begs the legislature for funding to fix its aging facilities. Each time around, they have about 60 priority projects, but they'll only get money for about five.

Every year the department of corrections begs the legislature for funding to fix its aging facilities. Each time around, they have about 60 priority projects, but they'll only get money for about five.

The New Mexico Department of Corrections said it doesn’t have enough guards and it’s having a tough time keeping the ones it does have.

“I'm not sure you could find, short of an active combat theater, a more negative environment a man or woman can ask to serve in,” said Greg Marcantel, the secretary of the Department of Corrections.

It’s a tough job that’s even tougher to fill. Right now, 26 percent of prison guard positions at the State Pen are vacant. That means guards there must work longer shifts.

For the guards who are behind prison walls 12 to 16 hours a day, the pay is only $13 an hour, and officials said that’s one of the biggest challenges in recruiting new employees.

“You can probably make just as much money at McDonald's as you do as a prison guard,” said Aurora Sanchez, Secretary of Administration.

The pay is only one problem. It’s also not easy to qualify for these jobs. Candidates need to pass physical, psychological and drug tests.

“If they cannot endure being behind a fence, being really locked up with the prisoners, there's nothing we could do about that and there's definitely nothing we can do if they are not drug-free,” Sanchez said.

Once guards are hired, it’s a whole different battle to keep them.

“They may be here a year and then they are recruited by usually Bernalillo County because we have already given them the training, so they don't have to invest in the training for them,” Sanchez said.

The Department of Corrections said it hopes to overcome the staffing issue through leadership and encourage current employees to stay with the department.